Sunday, 10th July 2016
Leprechauns 125 all out
Leps Batting: D.E. Williams 39 I.Hunter 14 N.Wilkinson 13
H'town Bowling: Wasif Rashid 7.3-2-16-5 D.Drumm 3-0-13-2 J.Brown 4-0-21-2
Moon 7-2-9-1
Halverstown 126 for 4
H'Town Batting: W.Rashid 67 Not Out L.Pitt 36 Not Out
Leps Bowling: A.Kerr 3-0-43-2 N.Wilkinson 8-0-18-1 A.Chisholm 12-4-34-1
It was one of our players whom I overheard saying that Leprechauns had been “founded by Lord Haw-Haw”. Since William Joyce (his real name), had been hanged as a traitor by the British in 1946 and the Leprechauns founded in 1948 it is unlikely. In fact Leprechauns were founded by Lord Haw-Haw's companion in propaganda broadcasts from the Third Reich, Charles (or Ted, depending) Bowlby, the Cork-born son of a colonel in the Inniskilling Fusiliers who later told the British Representative to Eire, Sir John Maffey, that his son should have paid the ultimate price. He also said to Maffey that his son was “not honest where money where money was concerned and in every way unreliable particularly where women were concerned”. This, I must add, is not meant as any slur on the fine, upstanding and honourable men who now represent this fine team, who have upheld cricket traditions through many difficult years for the sport. I don't know about the women bit, though. Their annual visit to Halverstown is one of out “Majors” and a much sought after game to play in, particularly since it is that rare event nowadays, a timed game.
The toss is a traditional politeness: the Leps will always bat first so that the beautifully blazered Charles Lysaght can decide on a finely balanced declaration, leaving Halverstown not quite enough time to win but just enough to bat out for a draw. Charles' timing has been awry in recent years, though, and Halverstown has batted through to a couple of closely fought wins. This year was different: Leps were missing their guaranteed century men and we had Pakistan's finest in Wasif and Moon. Although our bowling was spread across an extraordinary 9 bowlers, Wasif's 7.3 overs were devastating: 2 maidens and 5 wickets for 16 runs, including Charles- blazer and all- and Wasif's (former) friend Yasir dismissed on consecutive balls for golden ducks in an over which recorded 3 wickets for 4 runs. Moon conceded just 9 runs in his 7 overs for 1 wicket. John Brown bowled a tidy 2 for 21 and Des Drumm's 2 for 13 included Leps' highest scorers - Williams, who scored a very doughty 39, and Hunter, who put up stout resistance for his 14. A word, too, about young Hugh Perry who bowled 3 nice overs and a rather older TP who did so also.
For a while I regretted spreading the bowling: we struggled badly for runs and the threat of rain and the time limit looming made their total look tricky. The canny Charles gave his opening bowlers no respite: Alex Chisholm bowled 12 overs, including an astonishing 4 consecutive maidens. Wilkinson conceded just 18 off his 8 overs and even when Tony Kerr came on he took 2 wickets in his first over. However, Laurie Pitt steadied the ship before upping the run-rate with quick singles and some nicely hit boundaries. But with Moon out for just 1 and not a lot left in the batting locker we were 36 for 4. The prospect of batting out for a draw was looking positively attractive. Then Wasif cam to the crease: his 67 N.O included 6 mighty 6's (which necessitated cars being moved away from the boundary!) and 6 4s. 24 off one over of Kerr's was particularly damaging. It was game over for Leprechauns with, amazingly, 17 overs still to count down. After the little shower towards the end did I see a rainbow over Harristown?
Des Drumm
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